The Detroit Red Wings may have hung up their skates for the season, but the conversation around their lineup is just heating up. At the center of it all? A second line that played anything but a secondary role in the team's success.

Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Andrew Copp formed the backbone of Detroit's top six, carrying a heavy load throughout the year. When injuries struck in mid-March, this trio even stepped up as the top line—a testament to their versatility and grit. As general manager Steve Yzerman noted, "Consistently, Patrick Kane, Andrew Copp, and Alex DeBrincat were the one line that generated reasonably consistent 5-on-5 scoring for us." That consistency was crucial, especially when Copp returned a week early from his own injury to keep the unit intact.

But as the offseason looms, questions are bubbling up about this line's future—starting with Copp's goal production. The 31-year-old center wrapped up the season with just nine goals, the lowest on the line, and half of those came in a two-week January surge. In 79 games, Copp tallied 43 points, a career high and one more than his first season in Detroit, but it's clear the team wants more firepower. "We need to improve our center position, for sure," Yzerman admitted. "I look at our group... I think Copp did an admirable job. But when I look at number ones and number twos, we need more production from all four of our centers."

Meanwhile, Patrick Kane's situation adds another layer of intrigue. The former Stanley Cup winner has been playing on year-to-year contracts since joining Detroit, and this season marks his third straight outside the playoffs after a remarkable comeback from hip resurfacing surgery. But "Showtime" didn't always shine this year—an early-season upper-body injury clearly hampered his rhythm, and at times, the magic we've come to expect from No. 88 was missing.

With Copp still under contract at a $5.625 million AAV for another season, and Kane's future uncertain, the Red Wings have some tough decisions ahead. For now, this second line proved it's more than just a supporting act—but whether it can lead Detroit back to contention remains the big question.